Support Manager (Safeguarders Panel Team) in Edinburgh

The Role

In this role, you’ll:

• Be based at home but opportunities to work in our Edinburgh and Glasgow offices, covering the East and Central belt of Scotland.
• Be part of a highly effective and efficient team.
• Be responsible for providing support to Safeguarders and monitor their practice against Practice Standards.
• Liaise with key partner agencies and be a point of contact regarding queries, feedback or concerns relating to operational issues.
• Attend partnership and multi-agency meetings ‘Children’s Hearing Improvement Partnerships’ (CHIPS) in your area of work.
• Plan and facilitate support sessions with Safeguarders either as a one to one or in small groups in line with Performance, Support and Monitoring Framework.
• Support the continuation of operational delivery of contributing to agreed tasks such as Safeguarder recruitment, induction and training, development of newsletter and monthly communications to Safeguarders and the ongoing support and development of Safeguarders in line with the team work plan and contract delivery.

We’d love to hear from you if you have:

• Experience and knowledge of the Children’s Hearing System and relevant supporting legislation.
• Experience of working with children and families in a trauma informed and sensitive way.
• Experience of support and supervision of staff and or volunteers.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to build meaningful relationships, listening and providing constructive feedback.
• A proactive, collaborative approach and commitment to our values.

What we offer:

• A workplace with values of with love, with purpose and with strength.
• 40 days annual leave, inclusive of bank holidays.
• Pension scheme and wellbeing support.
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements.
• Access to Westfield Health, giving colleagues and their families confidential counselling support, wellbeing resources, and access to health and lifestyle benefits to support physical and mental wellbeing.
• Blue Light card discount.
• A Fair Work accredited workplace.

Our Values

Living our values, you will help create a workplace where our people can thrive, ensuring we deliver the best possible support to children and families.

• With love, we put children first.
• With purpose, we transform lives together.
• With strength, we do whatever it takes to protect Scotland’s children.

Corporate Responsibility

• Be committed and adhere to Children First’s vision, mission and values.
• Comply with Children First safeguarding policies and procedures.
• Comply with Children First code of conduct and any relevant professional standards relating to the role.
• Actively consider the involvement of children, young people and families with whom we work, in all areas of practice and to implement the Children First participation standards.
• Actively consider the involvement of volunteers in all areas of our work and to implement the Children First volunteer development policy.
• Observe all health and safety requirements.
• Work within and promote policies in relation to diversity equity and inclusion and anti-discriminatory practices.
• Undertake any other reasonably required duties as instructed by line manager or someone acting on their behalf.

How to Apply

If you share our values and are passionate about supporting our people, we would love to hear from you.

Contact: For more information, email lisa.goodman@childrenfirst.org.uk

Key Results Areas

• To support highly effective and efficient day to day operational delivery of the national Safeguarders Panel.
• To plan and facilitate support sessions with Safeguarders either as a one to one or in small groups in line with Performance, Support and Monitoring Framework.
• To provide informal ongoing support with Safeguarders as required out with the planned support sessions.
• To provide online or telephone duty support for Safeguarders.
• To liaise with Safeguarders and key partner agencies and be a point of contact regarding queries, feedback or concerns relating to operational issues.
• To sample Safeguarder reports to obtain evidence to support the Safeguarder appointment as part of the monitoring process.
• To attend partnership and multi-agency meetings ‘Children’s Hearings Improvement Partnerships’ (CHIPS) in your area of work.
• To support the continuation of operational delivery of contributing to agreed tasks such as Safeguarder recruitment, induction and training, development of newsletter and monthly communications to Safeguarders and the ongoing support and development of Safeguarders in line with the team work plan and contract delivery.
• To support and advise Safeguarders in the referral and follow-up of immediate child protection concerns which may arise in the course of a Safeguarders appointment.
• Work flexibly to meet the needs of the service provided by Children First to the national Safeguarders Panel.
• Ensure the service provided by Children First always complies with relevant legislation and the Scottish Government contract.
• To promote a culture of continuous learning and development internally and with Safeguarders.
• Provide one to one and group support to Safeguarders and progress learning and development needs and requirements.
• To promote and develop consistent and best practice within the national Safeguarders Panel in line with Practice Standards and core competencies as agreed with Scottish Government.
• To lead and collaborate with Safeguarders on the continued development and promotion of local support networks across Scotland and the implementation of communication mechanisms.
• To lead and promote the service to external partners and key stakeholders.
• Build effective relationships with partners, and key operational and strategic bodies and represent and promote the service at external events where required.
• Deliver a communication strategy which will effectively disseminate up to date knowledge and information to Safeguarders and inform best practice.
• To participate in Children First influencing and policy strategies supporting corporate colleagues as required.
• As required be involved in the recruitment, and induction of Safeguarders in line with Children First policies and procedures.
• To support the Service Managers and Assistant Director with the day-to-day resource management of the service.
• To promote the use of information technology and ensure compliance with Children First recording systems and standards.
• To establish effective communication channels both internally and externally with Children First colleagues and partner agencies.
• To support Service Managers by attending external meetings as required.
• To ensure quality assurance is visible and monitored and that there is compliance with Children First internal standards and relevant legislation/external standards.
• To maintain responsibility for Health and Safety as delegated by line manager.

ADDITIONAL DUTIES

Any additional duties will normally be to cover unforeseen circumstances or changes in work and will usually be appropriate and compatible with the regular type of work.

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• To be committed and adhere to Children First vision, mission and values.
• To comply with Children First code of conduct.
• To actively consider the involvement of children, young people and families with whom we work, in all areas of practice.
• To observe all health and safety requirements.
• To work within and promote policies in relation to Equal Opportunities and anti-discriminatory practices.

Person Specification

Need to Have (Qualifications and Experience)

• Relevant degree or Diploma in Social Work, Law, Education or Health or equivalent Management qualification or working towards Management qualification (SVQ5 or equivalent).
• Experience of support and supervision of staff and or volunteers, including group work.
• Substantial experience in case management and/or direct work with children and families.

Need to Show (Skills)

• Experience of building good working relationships, listening and providing constructive feedback.
• Experience of improving practice using performance management approaches.
• Experience of child protection, and risk assessment and management.
• Experience of Coaching and mentoring of staff/students/volunteers.
• Ability to oversee the operational function of a service and its elements whilst maintaining a child-centered perspective always.
• Ability to speak publicly and engage a wide range of people.
• Involving children and families in planning, designing and delivering services.
• Involvement in recruitment and assessment processes.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills including the ability to write complex reports.
• Ability to analyse information and present findings and feedback.
• Ability to model values through behaviours as an effective member of a management team.
• Negotiation, advocacy and influencing skills.
• Strong self-awareness, people management and leadership skills.
• Excellent organisational and administrative skills.
• Evidence of applying project management skills.
• Group leadership and facilitation skills.
• A strong ability to lead and a questioning approach.
• Working on own initiative through prioritising, planning and organising tasks and activities to meet deadlines.
• Resilience.
• A relational approach, building strong working relationships.
• Able to work flexibly and undertake out of hours work and some overnight stays as required.

Need to Know

• Up to date working knowledge of the children’s hearing system and relevant supporting legislation.
• Up to date working knowledge of court processes in relation to civil matters.
• Knowledge of roles and functions of those involved in the Children’s hearing System.
• Knowledge of a Safeguarders role and function.
• Up to date working knowledge of child protection systems, practice and legislation.
• Up to date knowledge of best practice and research relating to the impact of trauma on children’s development.
• A child-centred approach and understanding of children’s rights and best interests.
• Able to evidence knowledge relevant to working with children & young people.
• IT skills, including use of Microsoft Office and Excel.
• Educated to degree level or a standard that reflects the ability to research ideas, think analytically and articulate recommendations.
• Able to work flexible hours in line with service delivery requirements.
• Commitment to Children 1st vision and values.

About us

Children First is Scotland’s national children’s charity. We stand up for every child because all children should have a safe childhood. We protect children from harm and support them to recover from trauma and abuse through our national and local services. We help children, their families and the people that care for them by offering emotional, practical, and financial support. We give children hope and a safer, brighter future. Our core values guide how each one of us works in our individual day to day job:

• With love, we put children first.
• With purpose, we transform children’s lives together.
• With strength, we do whatever it takes to protect Scotland’s children.

If you share our vision and values and would like to join our team then we would love to hear from you.